Content about Geography

Dick Jackson, president and CEO of Pacific Wood Preserving Companies, died after a long battle with cancer, according to the Lumber Association of California and Nevada (LACN) newsletter.

The Valspar Corp. has announced the opening of a new research and development center in Shunde, China. The Valspar Applied Science and Technology Center will employ more than 200 scientists to support the continued growth of Valspar in Asia Pacific and Valspar’s research and development on a global basis.

Log and lumber exports from Washington, Oregon, northern California, and Alaska in the first three quarters of 2011 already surpass the total exports of 2010 according to the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station.

Linton Tibbetts, a Florida lumberman who founded Cox Lumber, passed away on Oct. 6, according to his obituary. He was 88 years old.

Tibbetts, who split his time between St. Petersburg, Fla., and the Cayman Islands, opened LBM outlets in both locations. His U.S. operation, founded in 1949,  grew to 30 locations, making it one of the largest regional chains in the United States. In 2006, when Tibbetts sold Cox Lumber to Home Depot, the company’s annual revenues were $396 million.

On the eve of the company’s second-quarter earnings announcement, Lowe’s closed seven underperforming stores. 


Shuttered are locations in Meriden, Conn.; Riverdale, Ga.; Elgin and Schaumburg, Ill.; Kenai, Alaska.; Cambridge, Minn.; and Ticonderoga N.Y.


Obviously, the move upset the affected communities. For instance, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski complained of the lack of notice. But CEO Robert Niblock is paid to make tough decisions, which is how he described the seven closings.


Lowe’s announcement on Aug. 15 that it was closing seven stores around the country has brought some swift reactions from politicians, community leaders and local media outlets.

Eco Building Products has announced its first successful shipment of 22 containers of “Red Shield” treated lumber, which has arrived at its Port au Prince distribution facility. The entire lumber package previously sold to local Haitian building supply companies will be distributed this coming week. 

Fulton Homes, one of Arizona’s largest privately-owned home builders, has announced the confirmation of its reorganization plan in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The company filed for Chapter 11 in 2009.

Continuing the alphabetical, coast-to-coast rundown of high-performing American hardware stores, here are three distinguished dealers from Nebraska, Nevada and New Hampshire:

• Nebraska


Q.P. Ace Hardware
With deep roots in the Lincoln community, Q.P. Ace Hardware has four locations. You can get a free bag of popcorn at any one of them. Founded in 1966, the business was handed down to Doug and Lisa Long in 1999, son-in-law and daughter of the founders. 

Back in 2006, Zeeland Lumber in Zeeland, Mich., was named Home Channel News Independent ProDealer of the Year. The building industry has changed dramatically since then, and Zeeland has changed with the times. 


The company unveiled its new branding last month, including a new logo and a simple, two-word tagline: “Build. Trust.” 


“It’s such a fitting tagline,” said Mark VandenBosch, VP sales and marketing. “Each word can stand alone, and together they represent everything we do.”


From New York's Island to the Redwood Forests, the great American hardware store maintains a revered place in commercial history of these United States. 

The May issue of Home Channel News compiled the first-ever Hardware Store All Star list. Here are three of the 50: standout stores from Alabama, Alaska and Arizona. 

• Alabama

Parr Lumber, the Pacific Northwest-based pro dealer, has promoted Nate Rasmussen to the position of eastern Washington regional sales manager. Rasmussen will develop sales strategies to increase services to key accounts in Spokane, Yakima and the Tri-Cities.  Previously Rasmussen managed contractor sales for Parr in the Portland metro area.